[Sundaycommunity] Prayers

[Dean Riley]

Good morning Paul. Thank you very much for your email message sharing your concerns about what is going on in Haiti. I appreciate deeply the Spiritan presence on Haitian soil and all the great work that your community has been doing for so many years.

The Dominican Republic, sharing the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, is affected greatly by the ongoing crisis across the border. Here in the Dominican Republic there is an English news service called DR1.com which each weekday sends out an email highlighting the major news articles circulating in the Dominican media. Today, the first four articles in the email had to do with the country and people of Haiti and how the crisis is directly impacting the Dominican Republic. These articles represent the official views of the government of the Dominican Republic, and I’d say the views of the majority of the Dominican people as well. I share them in order to provide an understanding of how the Dominican Republic perceives the problems in Haiti and the long term affects they are having on this country. 

Together in solidarity with those who are suffering unimaginable turmoil around our globe. 

Dean. 

-::-::-::-

1. Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez criticizes call to halt repatriations of undocumented Haitians
Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez condemned as "foolish" the request for the Dominican government to cease repatriations of undocumented Haitians amid rising insecurity in Haiti, highlighted by a recent massacre of over 115 individuals in Pont-Sondé in the capital city.

He mentioned that control of gangs in Haiti is on the rise and has increased to 85% of the capital city. He emphasized the potential risks of this violence spilling over into the Dominican Republic. He said that security is first in the interest of the Dominican Republic at a time when there is a situation of “unstopping massive flow” of migrants from Haiti. He said there is the concern that the criminal organizations would cross to our side of the border.

Speaking at a quarterly meeting focused on the Haitian crisis, Álvarez stated: "The Dominican government cannot accept this reckless call to halt repatriations, as it would effectively mean declaring an open border and would encourage increased irregular migration to our country. This is something we will never allow. Dominicans have never been the cause of any humanitarian, economic, or security situation in Haiti. Nevertheless, we have faced this crisis almost alone for decades."

Álvarez also noted that, four months into the deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), he expected more significant results. He recalled President Luis Abinader's recent remarks at the UN General Assembly in September: "It is unacceptable that, at this point, the countries that have been involved in the Haitian situation or committed to its resolution have not fully delivered on their promises."

The foreign minister praised the work of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, reiterating his call for continued support for the transitional government and the MSS, as well as assistance in organizing elections in Haiti.

However, Álvarez stressed that holding elections under current conditions is implausible. "Without territorial control, effective oversight by the Provisional Electoral Council, a completed electoral registry, and a schedule for fundamental processes, it is not credible to expect elections on the proposed date. Coordinated efforts with regional bodies are urgently needed to provide technical assistance that paves the way for a democratic re-establishment," he added.

Álvarez concluded that now is the time to intensify efforts to support the Haitian people and not be overwhelmed by the ongoing challenges.

Alvarez was accompanied at the Security Council meeting by José Blanco, the Dominican ambassador to the UN, and Joan Cedano, the alternate ambassador.

In remarks to the UN, the Haitian delegation acknowledged that only 20% of hospital services is operating in Port-au-Prince and 40% nationwide. The collapse of the health services has increased the burden on Dominican government finances with thousands of Haitians crossing the border to have access to free health services in the Dominican Republic. Likewise, more than 150,000 Haitians are known to be registered in Dominican public schools.

2. Migration and Army work to crack down on people smuggling
The director general of the Migration Agency (DGM), Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester, has acknowledged that the illegal entry of Haitians into Dominican territory is fueled by a lucrative business involving various sectors, Diario Libre reports.

During a visit on 22 October 2024 to the border provinces of Elías Piña and Dajabón on Tuesday, Lee Ballester condemned those who traffic in undocumented migrants, describing their actions as a betrayal of the nation.

"We can't just point the finger at the military," the visibly upset official stated. "There are other players involved who are profiting from this situation. There are recruiters, vehicles, transportation, lodging, and even motorcycle taxis. Many people in these areas are involved in this activity," he said as reported in Diario Libre.

The Vice Admiral called for a collective effort to combat this issue, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between all sectors of society. He also announced plans to expand and train the Migration agency's personnel nationwide.

On the same visit, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Major General Jorge Iván Camino Pérez, assured the public that the border remains secure and peaceful while stressing the need for enhanced control measures.

Major General Camino Perez said on Tuesday, 22 October 2024 that the military has referred over 20 cases of human trafficking, specifically involving Haitian citizens, to justice in October 2024.

According to Camino Pérez, those referred include military personnel, police officers, immigration agents, transportation workers, and ordinary citizens, highlighting the widespread nature of the illegal human trafficking network.

Camino Pérez emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to the migration issue, acknowledging the involvement of various sectors of society. He assured the public that the Army is vigorously combatting this crime.

"Beyond our humanity, there are certain things we cannot compromise. We must uphold the law. The Army will provide a tough, vigorous, and unwavering response. I am constantly monitoring our border commanders, and the results are evident in the number of referrals," Camino Pérez said, as reported in N Digital.

Pérez Camino says the Army is working jointly with Migration Agency director Lee Ballester and offering all needed support to the Migration Agency, as reported in Hoy.

The Migration and Army director met with the governors of Dajabon and Elias Piña, Severina Gil and Migdalys de los Santos. Also participating were representatives of the International Migration Organization, the UN Refugees Agency (UNHCR) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).

3. Business leaders urge solutions to undocumented workforce
The people smuggling networks respond to the demand for the service. Haitians cross the border given the insecurity, lack of jobs and social services in Haiti. In the DR, they find work and bring their families, where these receive medical and education services for free. The networks help the undocumented migrants to bypass the law. 

Business leaders have put forth a series of proposals aimed at improving the hiring process for foreign workers and enhancing cross-border trade between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Among the suggestions are the establishment of clear protocols for hiring foreign labor, the implementation of biometric systems to ensure the safe entry of workers, and the strict enforcement of the Foreigner's Border Resident Card as stipulated by Migration Law 285-04.

Additionally, business leaders have called for the reactivation of the Dominican-Haitian Binational Committee to foster better multi-sectoral communication and address the economic and political needs of the border region. They have also emphasized the importance of promoting cross-border trade at both the national and international levels and have advocated for the daily operation and formalization of border markets.

These proposals aim to improve living conditions in the border region, streamline immigration procedures, and strengthen economic ties between the two neighboring countries.

The situation of Haitian workers is more difficult than that of other nationalities because the Haitian government does not document the people in Haiti. This leaves the Dominican government with the basic resource of biometric registration of the migrants. For years, the Dominican government has demanded that the Haitian government document its people with little results. The Haitian government has also rejected donations of equipment. 

The mayor of border province Dajabon, Santiago Riveron protested that the Haitians who come to work bring their families with them. Haitian families are not known to practice birth control.

4. Wilfredo Lozano urges Haitians to take responsibility for migration
In a rare interview, Wilfredo Lozano, director of the National Migration Institute, has called on Haitians to stop playing the victim in the ongoing migration crisis and to start taking responsibility for their actions. Lozano argued that a more proactive approach is needed from Haitians themselves. The Haitian government has demanded the Dominican government put a stop to deportations that have been resumed as the situation in Haiti has been worsening, impacting local security. 

"We must accept that deportation is just one tool among many to address the widespread issue of undocumented and irregular migration. Deportation alone will not solve the problem," Lozano stated during a recent interview on the morning show El Despertador.

Lozano emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan that includes documentation, border control, and agreements with businesses to ensure their compliance.

In response to accusations of mass deportations and a lack of regularization efforts, Lozano criticized the stance of Haitian authorities, saying, "I believe that Haitian authorities are being quite irresponsible in this matter."

Lozano explained how the government of Haiti has resisted undertaking actions to document its population. He mentioned the Dominican government has offered collaboration to carry out the documentation of Haitians living in the Dominican Republic, and even that of Haitians living in Haiti. He said this was discarded by the Haitian governments because “there was no money in it.”

-::-::-::-

On Oct 22, 2024, at 7:33 AM, Paul M via Sundaycommunity <sundaycommunity at lists.integralshift.ca> wrote:

While we are all focused on the Middle East & Ukraine, it is easy to forget other places needing our prayers. Though Haiti has dropped from the news cycle, the anarchy & horror continues unabated. Please pray for Haiti and our many young Haitian Spiritan priests there who are still trying their best to do ministry in the midst of this nightmare. Having been to Haiti twice myself and spending years in assisting with post - earthquake building projects, it is a country dear to my heart. Haiti needs a miracle. 
________________________________________

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